Capo tasto.



No. 652,520. .Patented lune 26, |900.

- T. M. 'FLETCHER CAPO TASTO.

(Application led Dec. 30, 1899.)

` (.Nn Model.)

IN VENT 0R:

WITNESSES A TT ORNE Y.'

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UNITED STATES PATENT Ormea THOMAS M. FLETCHER, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

CAPO TASTO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 652,520, dated J une 26, 1900. Application fled December 30, 1899. Serial No. 742,067. (No modell) To @ZZ wz/om t may concern: 1

Be it known that I, THOMAS M. FLETCHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indiauapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Capo Tastos; and I do declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, refence being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. Y

My invention relates to an appliance that is designed to be attached to the neck of a guitar or similar stringed musical instrument whereby the strings are clamped to the fiuger-board to raise the pitch of the instrument to a higher key; and the objects are to provide an article of this character which may be manufactured at a very small cost, which shall be convenient and compact when not in use, and which may be quickly and effectively applied and be ornamental as Well as useful. These objects are fully attained in my invention, which is, furthermore, durable and economical in use.

The invention consists in improved forms in the details of construction vwhereby a capo tasto or appliance ofthe character described is provided which is composed of various members peculiarly formed and connected in-V tegrally from a single piece of ,elastic metal to which the pad is attached; and it consists, further, in the parts and combination and ar rangement of parts hereinafter particularly described and claimed. 3

Referring to the drawings, in which ,similar letters and numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, Figure l as may be best suited to attain the desired ends, one of which is to avoid superfluous weight, and as at present advised I prefer to use sheet-steel of fine quality capable of being highly elastic when tempered.V

I form a blank, substantially as shown in Fig. 5, of suitable width and thickness, preferably that known as No 23 wire-gage, and of the required length to comprise the necessary' integral members. The blank is formed by means of dies in a press and comprises a portion having parallel edges, which is of slightly-greater width than the por tions at either end thereof", which also have parallel edges, or preferably so. The wider portion A is indicated as extending from e to fat one side and from h to t' at the opposite side of the portion A', which becomes the pressure-bar A when completed, while the narrow parts b b', divided off by lines 1 1, at the sides become stiffening-flanges Z) for the pressure-bar. Near the ends of the flanges are dotted lines 2 and 3, which. indicate the lines at which the portions D and B' of the blank are bent over to form the spring-clasp D and the drop-arm B, respectively. At the line 4 the blank is bent under, so that the portion C becomes a spring-binder C. Near the extremity of the portion D' an aperture E is formed by a punch, which provides a latch-keeper E, and the eXtremityis bent outward to form a striking-plate d. The eX- tremity of the portion C has the corners cut out, as notches Gr, leaving a narrow integral portion F', Whichis bent downward and forms a latch F, which, together with the member D, may beY termed a clasp.7

While I preferably'provide for stidness of the pressure-bar A longitudinally by forming the flanges b b substantially at right angles to the transverse plane of the bar, I may omit the flanges and substitute one or more ribs a, situate longitudinally at the top of the bar A, or I may employ only the flanges, or both the flanges and a rib, as shown. The flanges serve also as a neat facing and protection for the pad I, of cork or other suitable material, which is suitably secured, as by cement or glue, to the under side of the bar, extending from one end to the other end thereof and from flange to flange. I the portion B as a drop-arm, it is, together IOO yWhile I designate with the binder C, a continuation of the pressure-bar A, and practically by reason of the peculiar formation the drop-arm B partakes of the function of the spring-binder, since the arm is adapted to and does spring or deflect somewhat in operation, as does also the spring clasp member D. The latch F is adapted to freely enter the keeper E and to slide smoothly against the plate CZ without chaiing the same. In forming the angles at the bends on the lines 2, 3, and 4L I may vary the angularity of the respectiveA members somewhat, but preferably the clasp member D and the arm B are each situate approximately at a right angle to the bar A, and the binder C at an oblique angle to the arm I3. In Fig. 2 the dotted lines C2, C3, and D2 illustrate the approximate range of movement of the several parts when being applied to or removed from the neck of aninst-rument and when being latched when not in use. In Fig. G the proportional lengths of the several parisrelaiivelyand with regard to the guitarneck are illustrated in approximation and show the position assumed by the binder relatively to the neck J of the instrument.

In practical use the binder C is disengaged from its clasp, when it will spring down sufficiently, or nearly so, to provide a space between the latch F and the striker-plate (Z to receive the guitar-neck J, having the lingerboard L and strings N, and the pad I of the pressure-bar A is placed upon the top of the strings in the customary manner. lf necessary, the binder C may be sprung open as much as may be necessary to pass below the neck J and when forced sufficiently will assume a curvature in reverse to that shown in Fig. 6. After adjusting the appliance the thumb should be placed near the shoulders C and this end ofthe binder forced up against the under side of the neck until the latch F engages the striker-plate CZ and forcing the clasp outward engages the keeper E. To disengage the binder, press outwardly with the thumb against the plate d until the latch F is released, when the binder will spring down or open, so that the appliance may be readily removed.

As offered to the trade the appliances are neatly finished and plated with nickel or other metal, as may be desired, and are graceful in form as well as being of great utility and incapable of accidentally marring the neck of any instrument.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A capo tasto consisting of a pressure-bar provided at one end thereof with an elastic depending arm adapted to bend only toward and from the opposite end of the bar, a binder, and a clasp for the binder; the pressure-bar,

depending arm, binder and clasp beingintegral.

2. A capo tasto consisting of a pressure-bar, a depending arm, a binder, and an elastic clasp for the binder at one end of the pressure-barand depending therefrom and adapted to bend only toward and from the opposite end ofthe pressure-bar; the pressurebar, depending arm, binder and clasp being integral.

3. A capo tasto consisting of a pressure-bar comprising a thin metal strip of considerable width and having portions thereof pressed up as reinforcing-ribs, an elastic depending arm, an elastic binder, and an elastic clasp for the binder; the parts being formed integral.

4. A capo tasto consisting of a pressure-bar provided at one end thereof with an elastic depending arm and a plate-binder continuing from the arm and together adapted to bend elastically only toward and from the opposite end of the pressure-bar, and a clasp for the binder; the pressure-bar, depending arm, binder and clasp being integral.

5. In a capo tasto, the combination with the pressure-bar, of an elastic clasp depending from one end of the pressure-bar and having its free end curved outwardly, and having also an aperture adjacent to the curved end; and an elastic plate-binder operatively connected to the opposite end of the pressurebar and having a curved tongue or catch projecting from the free end thereof and adapted to enter such aperture in said clasp.

G. In a capo tasto, the combination with the pressure-bar having the clasp at one end thereof, of the depending arm bending elastically only toward and from lines parallel to the broader sides thereof, and a binder attached to the depending arm and adapted to engage the clasp; the pressure-bar, depending arm, binder and clasp being integral.

7. In a capo tasto, the combination of the .pressure-bar having the vertical reinforcing ribs or flanges, the pad, the elastic drop-arm at one end of the pressure-bar and adapted to bend only toward and from the opposite end thereof, the plate-binder at the lower end of the drop-arm and ladapted to bend only toward and from the pressure-bar, and the elastic clasp at the opposite end of the pressure-bar and having the striker-plate and aperture adapted to engage the binder; the pressure-bar, drop-arm, binder and clasp being integral.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS M. PLETCHER,

lVitnesses:

J. WILL. CALLAHAN, E. T. SILvIUs.

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